Home again!

For those who have been following our blog, you know that the last half of our trip I did not write frequently. Life was just too busy!

We did arrive safely in Kitale. Curt had been feeling sick all day, and spent the day back at the lodge sleeping between trips to the washroom. Dr. Popwell, Dr. Kenya and I joined Dr. Stower in Kitale for a clinic. The doctors treated around 60 people. I buzzed back and forth between introducing patients to doctors, writing down treatment plans and follow up plans, calling people in to take seats in line to see the doctors, and making sure the doctors were hydrated. I did my best to turn Curt over to the Lord... but I must admit my mind and heart were back at the lodge.

In the midst of the busy running back and forth God gave many opportunities to share His Word, and the gospel story. Dr. Popwell brought a supply of gospel bracelets that gave the gospel in symbol form. An arrow pointing down signified Christ coming to earth. A cross following that meant that Christ took our sins on himself on the cross. The grave followed that where Christ lay dead for three days. An arrow pointing up told the good news of his Resurrection and conquering of sin and death, and another arrow pointing down reminded us that someday he will return for his children!

At one point I gave a bracelet to one of the ladies and explained the message. She said "you should give this to that lady. She's more of a Christian than I am. I am a hindu." I  gave a bracelet to the other lady.

Then the man at the very front of the line said "I want one too!"

"You don't want one. You are Muslim."

"Yes. I do want one!" So I walked over and gave him a bracelet and explained the gospel to him! What a neat opportunity!

The clinic was scheduled to run until 1:00 pm. At 12:30 pm we called over to tell the people feeding patients to us to stop the line. 1:00 pm came and went. 2:00 pm came and went. 3:00 pm came. By this time I was getting really concerned. Curt had had a fever and chills all night. I could feel his heart racing during the night and now he had been alone all morning, and we still hadn't stopped for lunch. We really needed to leave! I spoke to the lady they had brought to help me around 2:45 pm.

"My husband is back at the lodge. Do you think someone could be sent to make sure he is all right?"

"He's at the lodge?"

"Yes. He was sick when we arrived and he's been there sleeping all day."

"I will send someone over with soup for lunch."

"Thank you!!!"

We also had the doors closed. But a crowd stood outside the door begging to be let in. Finally at 3:30 pm we left. Dr. Stower stayed behind to help about 16 people who had continued to wait outside the door.

Relief flooded my heart as I opened the door and saw Curt open his eyes and sit up in bed. I felt his forehead. He still had the fever, but not as high as the night before. The lunch they had brought him sat next to the door so I brought it over and he ate the soup and a slice of pineapple.

Dr. Popwell and Dr. Kenya headed on to the next appointment- a school where they were going to show a Christian film, and do some more adjustments. They left me behind to care for Curt. Probably around 7:30-ish the fever felt as though it had left him.

The next day we left around 5:30 am. We drove to another children's home where we sang to the kids, and they sang to us as well. We then drove to Vahiga- Dr. Kenya's village. We met his mother, brother, and sister-in-law and their two children. We helped them bring water from the stream and shared cooked corn and hot tea.

Then we headed back to Nairobi. After a long drive we arrived late Sunday evening and fell into bed exhausted. We were up early the next day to be sure the vehicle was completely clear. Our rental vehicle was returned, and a safari company driver picked us up. We went to Charle's brother's house and left some of our luggage there. By 12:00 we were on our way to the Masai Mara for a short safari.

Our driver, Steven, told us he was a believer. Curt and I enjoyed swapping stories with him and hearing about his family. We were joined by Francis- who would help cook. Then we hit the road. After an hour of driving the road wound up into green mountains with steep slopes and no guard rails.

We drove past shops with names like "Facebook Picture Opportunity" and  "Third World Toilets" (no joke!). As trucks barreled past and the passing cars continued we prayed for safety and enjoyed the view. The mountains ended and were replaced by mile upon mile of flat African landscape, long yellow-green grass, dotted by Lion King-esque trees and scrub bushes. Mud huts with exposed sticks still sticking out the sides grouped themselves together periodically, and gardens guarded by cacti and other spikey plants crowded close to them. We saw herd after herd of cows, goats and sheep.

We stopped for lunch, and to buy more bottled water. While Charles was inside purchasing our supplies, a bracelet vendor came to the van. My window was open so he began to try to sell me bracelets. His prices were far to high, and I already had several bracelets, but I talked with him and gave him one of our bracelets. He thanked me and we talked about his family for a short while. I told him up front I did not plan to buy anything.

"It is good of you to talk with me. Usually when I come to a car they close the window on me, or pretend to be asleep. Then, when they get to safari they open the window and lean out of them to see the animals. It shows me that animals are more important than people."

Around 5 pm we pulled into camp. A log lodge open to the air with tables grouped together under it's massive log roof welcomed us almost as warmly as the employee at the door. The employee stood with a tray full of cups of mango juice. He and Joseph- a Masai Warrior showed us to our tents, explained what time the power would be on (7 pm to 10 pm at night. 5 pm to 7 am in the morning) and then told us dinner would begin at 7 pm. And an excellent dinner it was.

The next morning we were up by 6 am and in the car by 8:30 am. Stephen proved himself a skilled driver- navigating over gaping potholes with such smoothness that one barely needed to hold on to the van hand grip poles. He knew all about the wildlife from the common zebra, to the secretary bird, to impala, wildebeest, hartbeest, and warthog, and he was determined to find us some big cats to take pictures of. We spent about 2 hours going back and forth along a river bed searching for lions.

We did not find lions, but we did find giraffe, cape buffalo, hippos, crocodile and elephants, and at the end of the day- two large cats- cheetah!

The next morning we drove back to Nairobi. Stopping along the way to purchase a few more souvenirs. We arrived just in time to repack, and go to dinner with 4 Kenyan chiropractors, and the TV producer from the beginning of the trip.

After dinner we were dropped off at the airport. We had an uneventful flight back with no unexpected stops in Paris or any other city that wasn't on our itinerary. USA customs graciously decided we were not a threat to national security and ushered us through the gates in Chicago to our final plane. At the end of our flight Dad Doucette picked us up and we returned to our home where today we have spent the day trying to recover from jet lag, organize video and photos taken on the trip, and restock our pantry.

Thank you so much for your prayers! When Curt was sick it wasn't even 2 hours after I posted that he was feeling unwell on Facebook that his fever left. It has been such an encouragement to see God's provision and protection time after time.

Well, Jet lag is beginning to take over and more words are ending with head nods than should. So good night!